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Welkin in the Wizarding World (COMPLETED)	By : welkin_cooper Category: HP Canon Characters paired with Original Characters > Het - Male/Female Views: 14600 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters in it. I don't benefit financially from the production or display of this work of fanfiction in any way.

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Wicked Intentions - Part 2

Voldemort examines Welkin with polite conversation and invasive mind techniques. Julien explains himself to Snape. Bellatrix toys with Severus and Welkin comes to the rescue.

Author's Note: This chapter also includes my original characters of Julien Bell and Carmilla Malfoy

"Is the food not to your liking, Severus?" Voldemort asked, assuming a polite tone as he turned towards him for the first time since they'd been seated at the banquet table.

Snape had been ignoring the sumptuous, artfully presented food on his gold-rimmed plate in favor of following the curiously mundane but still potentially damaging dinner conversation between Voldemort and Welkin, whom the Dark Lord had unexpectedly chosen to seat to his immediate right at the banquet table in a prime position of honor.

To Snape's expertly hidden displeasure and agitation, the Dark Lord had separated them. He had expected to be seated at Welkin's side, but at least he was directly across from her on Voldemort's left and could still keep a watchful eye and poised ear on the odd proceedings.

Why had Welkin been seated so prominently in full view of some of Voldemort's most trusted Death Eaters? It was another unexpected development that was quite troubling to Snape. So many of the guests at that table would have competed to the point of actually flinging hexes or worse at one another to be placed in such a position of honor at the Dark Lord's side.

That disgruntled group included Yaxley, who was seated to Welkin's right, and Bellatrix Lestrange, who was glowering intermittently at Welkin from her seat immediately to Snape's left whenever she was not attempting to engage him in conversation. Not that he didn't want to talk to her. He needed to, at some point, to determine if she was Welkin's attacker, but not in front of an army of onlookers and eavesdroppers.

Voldemort was holding court at the head of the table, of course, with their hostess Narcissa Malfoy positioned at the foot of the table keeping a watchful eye on her guests, some of whom, such as Carmilla Malfoy, she did not seem to be especially pleased to see.

Snape regarded Voldemort, who had adorned himself in his magically glamorized form of Tom Riddle—perhaps the most troubling aspect of the evening thus far. Snape couldn't quite get over the anxious feeling that this attractive guise of Voldemort’s younger self was also strictly for Welkin's benefit. Voldemort sometimes intimidated talented witches and wizards into his service, but more often he executed his powers of persuasion through his personal charm, a more subtle and seductive means.

Voldemort was a master at charming people into doing his bidding or getting the things he desired from them. He understood at least that much about what motivated people in order to make them succumb to him and his lies. I know that only too well from personal experience, Snape thought sadly as he framed his response to the Dark Lord.

"No, milord... the repast is quite splendid, I assure you. I merely find that having subsisted so long on the inferior cuisine at Hogwarts, my appreciation of and appetite for rich, well-prepared food is not what it used to be," Snape explained.

"What a pity... but I see that your wife's healthy appetite remains undiminished by such an unfortunate circumstance," Voldemort noted.

Welkin, who had been eating quite lustily in hopes that it would discourage Voldemort from talking to her too much if her mouth was continually full, paused with her fork in mid-air and looked to Severus uncertainly.

"Yes, Severus," Bellatrix agreed quickly. "Don't you feed that wife of yours? She seems absolutely ravenous tonight. One more bite and the seams of that lovely costume she's wearing might just split apart."

Welkin frowned. Who was that creepy, wild-eyed bitch to be calling her fat?

"I doubt that, Bella," Voldemort contradicted in a clearly annoyed tone. "I find her costume—and the woman in it—quite fetching. I admire a woman with healthy appetites—and a form that reflects such appetites," Voldemort said with deceptive mildness, staring at Bellatrix until she nervously dropped her eyes to the table. When she looked up again, she glared at Welkin, who couldn't help forking the last bit of food into her mouth and smiling at Bella in a self-satisfied way as she chewed and swallowed with exaggerated pleasure.

All evening, as the meal progressed to its conclusion, Welkin quietly observed as Bellatrix kept leaning in too closely to try to talk to Severus. Each time she laid her hand lightly against his arm or put her lips to his ear, Welkin fumed. What was she up to? Bellatrix couldn't stand either one of them, and now she was trying to practically crawl into Severus's lap—not that Severus had paid her any real attention.

She might as well be a big, black lace-clad mosquito, for all the attention Severus has paid to her, Welkin thought with approval. Bellatrix's annoying buzzing around him had been deliciously fruitless. Still, Welkin would be glad when the meal was over. Not that I'm going to do anything stupid... like launch myself over this table and slam the crazy bitch's head repeatedly into it. No, she would just sit here politely and fantasize about doing it.

"I couldn't help noticing one particular addition to your costume, my dear," Voldemort segued smoothly. He gestured with casual elegance at her silver quiver with one hand. "What a clever way to carry your... wand," he noted.

And here it was at last—the magical elephant in the room which he had avoided during their polite, inane conversation—her wand.

Since Voldemort already knew that she was a witch, Welkin and Severus had decided jointly there was no reason to try to conceal her wand from him, and it had joined her silver arrows in her quiver.

"Very distinctive markings. A Druid design, if I am not mistaken?" the creature who was once Tom Riddle remarked casually.

"So I'm told," Welkin said just as casually. "I really wouldn't know. I just use the thing. I don't really need to know the history of it to make it work, do I?"

"I'm told you are quite accomplished with it... as a duelist," Voldemort continued, looking meaningfully at Yaxley.

Welkin glanced at Snape again for a clue on how she should respond.

"She is but a novice, milord" Snape quickly replied for her. "Her abilities have been greatly exaggerated, I am sure. Her main accomplishments lie in other areas more appropriate to a wife... which I much prefer."

"I can well imagine that you would," Voldemort agreed with a pleasant smile as he locked eyes with Welkin. She felt the tendrils of his thoughts probing hers and entwining with them, and her back stiffened involuntarily. She forced down her revulsion and allowed the invasion, filling her mind with neutral thoughts of the food... the costumes...

"And does your husband always speak for you?" Voldemort asked purposely.

"Yes, he does, milord," Welkin said. "I bow to his expertise as a wizard. Whatever poor skills I possess I owe to him... in every area."

Voldemort chuckled. "Well spoken, my dear. But it would suit me to hear your own thoughts—and I think I would much prefer you in the original costume. Would you stand up?"

"Stand... up?" Welkin repeated. "Why?" She looked at Severus hesitantly.

"Do not question the Dark Lord," Snape ordered. "Stand up as you are commanded."

Welkin obediently rose from her seat as Voldemort did the same. With one graceful sweep of his hand, he recreated the image he had seen so recently in her mind. Welkin was once again the bare-legged Diana the Huntress, her lovely limbs unhampered by the long skirt Severus had conjured her into earlier in the evening.

"Much better," Voldemort said approvingly, and Welkin tamped down her anger as a number of people at the table applauded with sycophantic admiration at the stunt, as if she was tonight's featured entertainment. It was one thing to choose to display herself, but it was quite another to be forced to do it by someone she detested.

Two of the people who didn't applaud were Severus and Bellatrix. Severus sat there in stony, impassive silence, and Welkin could have sworn she heard a low hiss of anger escape between Bella's clenched teeth. Voldemort didn't seem to notice either reaction, although she was certain that he had.

"And now, Severus, I'm sure you won't mind if I borrow your charming wife for a walk in the gardens, will you?" the monster said.

"Of course not, milord."

Even as he said the required words, Severus wanted to kill him. He wanted to eviscerate him with Dark Magic, but no sign of that impossible desire to obliterate his 'master' must disturb the smooth serenity of his face. No hint of his worry for Welkin must crease his brow. Voldemort must never know how precious Welkin was to him or it would be their undoing.

Voldemort extended his hand and Welkin placed hers in it, knowing she had no choice. She allowed the devil in angel's guise to lead her away.

"Doesn't my new form please you? I thought it was rather a clever way to assume a costume for this evening, yet you seem not to appreciate my efforts," Voldemort said. "Perhaps you prefer my own form over this one," he conjectured.

"Whichever pleases you, milord," Welkin told him, trying not to sound too indifferent.

Voldemort held out Tom Riddle's pale unblemished hand with his fist clenched. As he relaxed his fist and let it open, a red swirl sparkled briefly above his open palm before solidifying into a beautiful red rose.

"Thank you, milord," Welkin said, docilely taking the offered flower.

"What pleases me... is that you drop this pretense," Voldemort announced.

"Pretense? What pretense is that, milord?"

"The pretense that you are a meek and mild innocent unable to discern my interest in you and reluctant to speak your mind without Severus present," Voldemort said. "We both know that you are a witch of some ability, and as I recall that Severus does not suffer fools for any length of time, I also know that you must not be one, whatever you originally led Severus to believe. You wouldn't want to insult my intelligence by continuing to pretend to be what you are not," Voldemort clarified.

Welkin considered her options quickly and reacted instinctively. Even a monster could be flattered.

"How clever of you. It took Severus nearly two years to find me out," she said and relaxed into a smile. "And as you know, he's a very clever and useful man."

"As I well know," Voldemort agreed. He moved closer to her in the moonlight and Welkin tried to prepare her mind as he put a hand under her chin to lift her eyes to his. She had been expecting this.

"Look at me... it is past time that we became better... acquainted," he said.

The rose fell from her hand to the ground as his eyes bored into hers. It shimmered and then shriveled, forming a small pile of black dust which blew away on the wind.

With furrowed brow, Severus hovered by a window overlooking the gardens which should have been much less lush this time of year. But, thanks to the Dark Lord's magic, the plants were all miraculously in full bloom.

Welkin was alone in the garden being tempted by the serpent. The religious imagery sprang into his mind beneath the layers of control he had carefully built. He prayed that she would be stronger than Eve had been, and that his tutelage would be enough to shield her from the deceiver.

"Professor Snape, could I have a word with you in private?"

Snape turned from peering out the window into the darkness to face Julien Bell, who was now miraculously sans Carmilla Malfoy.

"As you seem to have extricated yourself from the clutches of your benefactress for the moment, I suppose that you could. But, I would speak quickly if I were you. Carmilla is not known to let her pets roam too far from her side for long. I suspect that she will be here to collect you at any moment," Snape said.

"I need to explain what I'm doing here so that you won't get the wrong impression," Julien said, ignoring Snape's sneer. “I think Welkin already has misunderstood, and I wouldn’t want any of this to get back to Hermione.” He twisted one of the ornate rings on his right hand nervously. "I assume that Welkin's told you about me and Hermione—"

"What you do with Miss Granger is your affair—unless it involves her in the affairs of the Dark Lord," Snape threatened. "Then, I might have to involve myself. My position at Hogwarts must be maintained. I will not allow a social climbing dilettante such as yourself to use Miss Granger in your attempt to ingratiate yourself with the Dark Lord by mining her for information. She has no such golden vein of knowledge concerning Dumbledore’s comings and goings, I assure you.”

“No... no... you don’t understand, Snape. I’m not using her. I care for Hermione. My interest in Carmilla is...”

Julien’s earnest expression gave Snape pause to reconsider as the man hesitated, obviously wanting to tell him something further.

“Carmilla’s interest in you is obvious, judging by that prurient display you two have put on in public this evening. Your interest in her, I assume, is less honest or would be perceived as such from her perspective. You desire entry to the Dark Lord, as either a spy or a Death Eater... possibly both,” Snape concluded. “You are willing to use Carmilla for that opportunity, and you are willing to use Miss Granger for the advantage she might give you to advance in Voldemort’s regard.”

“No... honestly... Hermione has nothing to do with this, I swear it!” Julien insisted. He impulsively grasped Snape by the arm and Snape jerked away from him as if he was stung.

“I do not care to be manhandled in such a familiar way, Mr. Bell. It would be best if you remember that in the future,” Snape warned.

“I’m sorry... I just...” Bell sighed in frustration, struggling with himself. “It’s just... I know who you are,” he said with a note of defeat in his voice.

“Who I am?” Snape repeated.

“Yes...” Bell leaned a little closer and lowered his voice, but he kept his hands to himself this time. “I know you work for... the Order,” he whispered.

“Muffliato,” Snape said in a low hiss, quickly and discreetly casting the charm to muffle their conversation from others.

“Are you mad? Whatever would make you think that?”

“Because... I work for the Order too,” Bell told him.

Julien finally got a small bit of gratification from the evening as Snape stared at him with openmouthed disbelief.

Voldemort withdrew from Welkin's mind convinced of two things: Severus Snape was still a trusted servant, and his wife was so enthralled by Snape that she would do anything to see him advance in the ranks of the Death Eaters, even pretend to share Snape's unquestioning loyalty to his master.

Snape's own sexual and mental mastery of Welkin was truly impressive, considering what a headstrong woman Voldemort had found her to be during his examination.

Strong will is to be expected, considering she has the blood of a talented dark sorceress in her veins, Voldemort thought. She also appeared to have some talent as a healer, although the details on that were sketchy.

She had not liked having him in her mind and was more resistant to it than most could manage to be. She hid it well for a while, but her resistance had proved futile, of course... as it always did in the end.

Welkin’s decisiveness and her intractable allegiance to Snape might prove inconvenient to him at some point in the future, but her magical talents and her body would be valuable. He would preserve her and Snape towards that day.

"Do you have a headache?" the monster asked solicitously as he raised a hand and pressed his fingers to Welkin's temple. "I can fix that."

Welkin felt a surge of power and then a strange languor. She tried to remember what secrets might have been exposed to Voldemort when he had attempted to rifle through her feelings and emotions for the things she had hidden, but she could remember nothing. It was disturbing to be so blank. She hoped and prayed that he had found nothing that might be damaging to Severus.

Snape lifted the Muffliato Charm as he saw Carmilla Malfoy approach.

“Julien, you bad boy... so here’s where you’ve been hiding from me. I have important people to introduce you to,” Carmilla chided. Her red lipstick, her pallor, and her feral expression made her resemble a vampire as she glanced between them. She took Julien’s arm possessively. “Not that you aren’t important, Severus,” she smoothed it over.

“No offense was taken, Carmilla,” Snape said mildly. “I measure my value by my usefulness to the Dark Lord rather than by the limbs on my family tree as others might.”

Carmilla raised her chin haughtily, unsure if Snape had intended that remark as a slight to her. He’s probably just jealous of Julien, she thought scornfully. He might be one of the Dark Lord’s favorites, but he’s ugly, crude and common. That wife of his proves it, if that’s the best he could get. She’s as common as he is.

“Bella would like a private word with you, Severus,” Carmilla said. “She’s upstairs waiting for you in her room at the end of the hallway. Come, Julien,” she ordered, her voice sounding like the snap of a dog’s leash bringing an animal to heel, and Julien walked away with her obediently as she flung some final remarks at Snape over her shoulder.

“I wouldn’t keep Bella waiting, if I were you. She’s not as patient as Lucius was with your peculiarities and presumptions. She’s used to people knowing their place in the scheme of things.”

Snape stared after her and considered his options. He could ignore Bella’s summons and probably should. But, here was his opportunity to determine whether Bella was behind the attempt on Welkin’s life. There was no way he would ignore that.

Snape left his vigil by the window. If Welkin needed him, she would signal him as they had agreed. He mounted the stairs briskly and made his way down the hallway to the end to locate Bella’s room easily.

“Come in, Severus,” Bella invited as he knocked on the door.

When he entered, the heady scent of night blooming jasmine assaulted his nostrils and his eyes had to grow accustomed to the dim lighting before he spotted Bella lounging on a divan by the fireplace.

“Come and sit by me, Severus,” she requested.

Said the spider to the fly, Severus thought as he immediately determined to remain standing.

As she rose from her reclining position, he saw with alarm that she was dressed in a red nightgown, not quite covered by a long black lace dressing gown.

“Forgive my appearance,” she said. “I was preparing to retire for the evening, but I thought tonight might be a good opportunity to clear the air and... settle some things between us.”

The highlights in her raven black hair glinted as she shook her head at him. She toyed with a strand of hair and smiled at him wolfishly, which startled him even more. The woman was even more insane than he believed, if she thought there was any chance of her being able to seduce him.

“There is only one thing that needs settling between us,” Snape said forcefully. “And that is the matter of your attempt on my wife’s life.”

“Why, Severus... why would you think I would do such a thing? I have no quarrel with your wife,” Bella simpered. She rose to her feet slowly and approached him since he didn’t seem inclined to approach her. When she was close enough, she looked him in the eyes.

"You've been known to kill for far less cause than a quarrel," Snape accused, "and why I would think it of you is not a question which is germane to the issue at hand. I know that it was you."

"You're bluffing, Severus. You forget how well that I could always tell it when we were younger."

Bellatrix laughed and poked at his chest with one long fingernail. "But let us suppose that you are correct, and it was me who attacked your precious Welkin. What would you give me to see that it does not happen again? Perhaps... a kiss?"

She tilted her head to avoid his nose and pressed her lips to his, then laughed as Snape firmly thrust her away from him.

"My, my... how fastidious you've become as a married man. Saving your kisses for your beloved, are you? Is that why you rescued her from the dragon's breath? Has the cold heart of Severus Snape finally been thawed?"

Snape involuntarily wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and glared at her until her cackle of a laugh died.

"Whose heart have you thawed, Bella? Certainly not the Dark Lord’s. Was it you at his side tonight, or has he tired of your unflagging devotions. How long do you think that you will remain at his side when you no longer have anything to offer him?" He regretted the words as soon as he had said them. The look on Bella’s face told him what a mistake it had been.

"Long enough," Bella growled, "because I'll soon have something else to offer him... a traitor!"

Bella pulled her wand and stepped back to level it at him. "Imperio!" she cursed him, and he staggered backwards and slumped to the floor on his knees.

Where is he? Welkin wondered. He wouldn't have left me here with these awful people if he could help it. What if something happened to him while I was with Voldemort?

She spotted Julien with Carmilla and, despite her anger with him over his treatment of Hermione, she went to him immediately.

"Julien, have you seen Severus? I want to leave, and I can't find him."

"Professor Snape is upstairs," Julien said hesitantly.

"With Bella," Carmilla told her smugly. "I wouldn't just burst in, if I were you. They're probably... deeply involved in something," Carmilla smirked.

Welkin bounded up the stairs and halted at the top. Which way? I forgot to ask. What the hell... I'll try all the rooms.

She worked her way down the long hall, opening and closing doors until she finally burst through the last door to a sight she wasn't expecting to see.

Bellatrix Lestrange was sitting on the edge of a divan with her nightgown hiked up and Severus was on his knees before her, about to get busy between her thighs, if he hadn't already. His head was jerking oddly, but when she rushed forward to pull him away from Bellatrix, there was an empty look in his eyes. He looked as if he were sleepwalking.

"What have you done to him?" Welkin shouted.

"What have I done to him? Why, nothing, yet. But he's done quite a lot to me," Bella taunted.

"You've done something to him! He's under a spell. Undo it, you fucking bitch!" Welkin demanded and drew her wand from her quiver. "Undo it, or I'm going to make a flaming fricassee out of that nasty cunt of yours!"

She pointed her wand between Bella's thighs, causing her to close her legs and leap up, reaching for her own wand.

A stream of energy erupted from the tip of Welkin's wand and jolted Bella, slamming her into the wall. Welkin advanced on her and pressed her wand into the side of her face. "Undo it, I said, or I'll fucking undo you."

"Wel... kin," Severus croaked, fighting hard against the Imperius Curse he was under. He rolled to his stomach and crawled towards them inch by inch.

"Well, well... I guess there's some fight left in him after all," Bellatrix giggled.

Welkin grabbed her hair and tugged her with her as she scrambled to meet Severus the rest of the way.

"Fix what you've done to him. This is your last chance. You can see that he's going to fight his way out of it anyway. If you want to come out of this without any permanent injuries, you'd better do as I say," Welkin warned. "And if you make any funny moves with that wand, I'll be the next one laughing."

Snape did seem to be slowly resisting the curse on his own. The game was over anyway, Bella conceded to herself—at least for the moment. She raised her wand and pointed it, speaking the words to release him from her mental bondage.

Snape jerked several times and slumped to the floor again with a grunt. Welkin checked his breathing and his eyes, which no longer had the faraway look they'd had before.

"Satisfied?" Bellatrix smirked.

"Not yet," Welkin replied. She leveled her wand at Bella. "Stupefy!" she shouted, and Bella kissed the floor abruptly and lay there unconscious.

"Now, I'm satisfied." Welkin smiled and put her wand away. She scooted to Snape's side and tugged his head onto her lap.

"Severus, you just lie still. Don't move until you think you can get up, okay? I knocked her out. You take your time, Sevvy."

"Welkin... I did not want to... I could not stop myself," Snape tried to explain.

"I know that, Severus. Don't you worry about that. She forced you to. You're not to blame. I'm just glad you're okay. That crazy bitch might have killed you."

Welkin cradled him against her. "Close your eyes and just rest a little until you're strong enough. Then, I'll help you up."

Severus closed his eyes as she began to gently rock with him, humming one of Sullivan's favorite melodies.
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Welkin in the Wizarding World (COMPLETED)

Wicked Intentions - Part 2